Politics

LANSING - The signed framework for the 2015-16 fiscal year will leave an unusually large number of major items for Michigan House-Senate conference committees to resolve, but points toward reductions at the Department of Talent and Economic Development as well as the human services portion of the Department of Health and Human Services. It is

HOUGHTON - Most people see defects as flaws. A few Michigan Technological University researchers, however, see them as opportunities. Twin boundaries, which are small, symmetrical defects in materials, may present an opportunity to improve lithium-ion batteries. The twin boundary defects act as energy highways and could help get better performance out of the batteries. This

HOUGHTON - Nina Mahmoudian has received the National Science Foundation's prestigious CAREER Award, which provides $500,442 to help overcome the biggest limitation for autonomous vehicles - energy efficiency. The grants are given to early career researchers who excel in both research and education, both of which are important parts of Mahmoudian's Nonlinear and Autonomous Systems

LANSING - No state has a higher percentage of its roads in rural areas in poor condition than Michigan, according to a report released Tuesday. The report from TRIP, a nonprofit funded by insurance companies, equipment manufacturers, distributors and suppliers as well as businesses involved in highway and transit engineering and construction, labor unions and

LANSING - The Michigan Agency for Energy, created through an executive order by Governor Rick Snyder, officially opened its doors for business on Monday with the goal of being the single entity dedicated to getting all of the state government departments and commissions the information and context they need to support the state's energy priorities.

LANSING - An economist with the University of Michigan's Research Seminar in Quantitative Economics said Friday job growth will likely pull back from its "unsustainable robust growth" of recent years, but said the unemployment rate will continue to decline. Between the second quarter of 2000 and the third quarter of 2009, Michigan lost 858,400, according

LANSING - Economists on Friday projected an upswing in Michigan revenues for both the current and upcoming fiscal years, and many officials expect the increase will go toward transportation and infrastructure funding. But Budget Director John Roberts was quick to say the anticipated revenue increase is one-time and the administration of Governor Rick Snyder still

FLINT - With support from the Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee, Jonathan Wenzel, assistant professor of Chemical Engineering at Kettering University, is attempting to speed up the process of making biodiesel - a renewable fuel that is made using predominantly soybean oil in the United States, but can be made from animal fats and other vegetable

PLYMOUTH - I recently had the privilege of presenting to more than 60 City Year Detroit corps members who've made a one-year commitment to mentor students in high-need Detroit public schools. Our discussion focused on managing your own online PR - as in personal reputation. Flaunt your volunteerism According to a 2014 social recruiting survey

LANSING - Most of the Senate Democratic caucus was firing on all cylinders Thursday in the wake of the decision by the Republican majority to pass a three-bill package that would repeal the state's prevailing wage law. But they were not alone. The debate was actually sparked by Sen. Tom Casperson (R-Escanaba), who would be